Man who fled head-on collision found driving on three wheels in Berwick

Wednesday

Dec 5, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Liz Markhlevskayalmark@fosters.com

LEBANON, Maine — A man police say fled the scene of a personal injury accident here Saturday was found intoxicated and driving on three wheels in Berwick shortly after the head-on collision, according to State Police.

Alan Wilson, 31, of Berwick, is accused of crossing over the center line on Carl Broggi Highway around 6:15 p.m. Saturday and causing a head-on collision, before fleeing the scene of the accident.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 31-year-old Farmington woman, was transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital for evaluation, and is now believed to be out of the hospital, said State Trooper Dave Coflesky on Tuesday. The three young children who were in the Jeep Wrangler she was driving were treated at the scene but did not need to be taken to the hospital.

Less than an hour after the crash, Berwick police located the vehicle Wilson was driving, using the description of the vehicle provided by a passerby and by the driver of the Jeep.

According to Coflesky, police found Wilson driving the Chevrolet Avalanche on three wheels in Berwick. The fourth wheel came off during the accident in Lebanon.

“He got far, I’ve never seen it,” said Coflesky.

He said the icy conditions on Saturday may have contributed to Wilson being able to drive on three wheels. Wilson was also allegedly intoxicated at the time.

After being apprehended by police on Saturday, Wilson was charged with operating under the influence and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, which are both Class D felonies. He was also charged with failure to report an accident by quickest means, a Class E misdemeanor.

Wilson was not injured in Saturday’s accident, said Coflesky.

The Jeep Wrangler, which sustained heavy front-end damage, was towed from the scene Saturday.

The accident occurred near Stokewood Drive in Center Lebanon, on Carl Broggi Highway.

The Farmington woman was reportedly driving east on Carl Broggi Highway, while Wilson was driving west. The driver of the Jeep reported to police the accident happened fairly quickly.